Sheet collating machine

ABSTRACT

Collating apparatus having an automatic loading cycle for placing sheets of various sets in bins to organize a group of various sheets in each bin and for jogging the sheets of the group in each bin into edge alignment during the loading cycle; the apparatus having an automatic unloading cycle for stapling the group of sheets in each bin together in a book sequentially from bin to bin, unloading the book from each bin after it is stapled to a bottom conveyor below the bins, and conveying the books to a collection point. Each said collating apparatus constituting a basic machine unit of designed book making capacity to suit the needs of users in the minimal to average range. Each basic machine unit being integratable with like units in end-to-end and/or superposed relationship to suit user&#39;&#39;s needs above the minimal to average range to provide machines of larger capacity at near the same cost per book thereby obviating greatly increased costs for larger capacity machines.

United States Patent 1 Kantarian et al.

[111 3,708,160 [451 Jan.2,1973

[54] SHEET COLLATING MACHINE [73] Assignee: Edon Industrial Products Co'., by

said Bearde [22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 886,718

[52] US. Cl ..270/53 [51] Int. Cl. ..B42b 1/02 [58] Field of Search ..270/53, 45, 46, 51, 58, 59,

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff Attorney-William T. Sevald [5 7] ABSTRACT Collating apparatus having an automatic loading cycle for placing sheets of various sets in bins to organize a group of various sheets in each bin and for jogging the sheets of the group in each bin into edge alignment during the loading cycle; the apparatus having an automatic unloading cycle for stapling the group of sheets in each bin together in a book sequentially from bin to bin, unloading the book from each bin after it is stapled to a bottom conveyor below the bins, and conveying the books to a collection point. Each said collating apparatus constituting a basic machine unit of designed book making capacity to suit the needs of users in the minimal to average range. Each basic machine unit being integratable with like units in endto-end and/or superposed relationship to suit users needs above the minimal to average range to provide machines of larger capacity at near the same cost per book thereby obviating greatly increased costs for larger capacity machines.

10 Claims, 43 Drawing Figures PATENTED 21915 3.708.160 I SHEET 01UF21 PATENTEDJAH 2197s SHEET on HF 21 KKK PATENTEDJAM. 2191a SHEET USUF 21 SHEET 5- PATENTEDJAN 2m SHEET U7UF 21 ATTORNEY PATENTEDmzms 3.708.160

' SHEET lZUF 21 ATTORNEY PATENTEBJAI 2191a SHEET 1 3 OF 21 (I'll I INVENTO-YRS mmm W r 5 M 6 ATTORNEY LNVENTOR lUUF 21 SHEET PA'TENTED 2 I973 day/v A! 3154 00: BY 004 1940 7 7 0.5

ATTOR NEY PKTENTEDJM 2191a SHEET NM 21 INVENTORS ATTORNEY 

1. A collating machine and stapler combination comprising of a sheet collating machine including a frame having opposite ends and opposite sides; a top conveyor mounted on said opposite sides for moving sheets horizontally from one said end toward the other said end; gates mounted between said opposite sides below said top conveyor for diverting sheets downwardly from said top conveyor; said gates being operable between a sheet diverting position and a normal sheet by-passing position; a plurality of relatively vertical spaced plates mounted between said sides below said gates defining bins therebetween; one said bin being associated with and below each said gate and having an open top for receiving sheets diverted by said associated gate; a bottom closure on each said bin constituting the bottom of each said bin for retaining the sheets in each said bin during collating; means for selectively operating said gates between said diverting and by-passing positions at each said bin to divert sheets from said top conveyor to each said bin and to by-pass sheets traveling thereon to gates downstream; each said bin having an open end portion for exposing at least a portion of the edges of the sheets in each said bin; said bin plates having a cut away portion in the area of said open end portion for exposing the surface of the sheets adjacent the exposed edges of the sheets; said bins open end portions and said Bin plates cut-away portions thus providing for positioning a stapler over the surfaces of the sheets to drive a staple through the sheets to stitch the sheets together while in said bins; a motor, brackets mounted on one said side of said frame at the ends thereof, rails extending between said brackets, a carriage mounted on said rails for traveling between said ends of said frame, a cross-slide mounted on said carriage, at least one stapler mounted on said cross-slide; said crossslide on said carriage having reciprocating motion for extending said stapler into said bins to stitch the sheets together and for retracting said stapler from said bins after the stitching operation; a carriage drive shaft lying between said brackets for moving said carriage on said rails, drive means connected between said carriage drive shaft and said carriage for moving said carriage linearly on said rails, a normally disconnected clutch between said motor and said carriage drive shaft and drive means for connecting and disconnecting rotational drive to said carriage drive shaft and to said drive means, control means for activating and de-activating said clutch to move said carriage incrementally from bin to bin and to stop said carriage at each said bin during the stapling operation; a cross slide drive shaft lying between said brackets for extending and retracting said cross-slide and said stapler relative to said bins, cross-slide drive means connected between said cross-slide drive shaft and said cross-slide for reciprocating said cross-slide relative to said carriage, a normally disconnected clutch between said motor and said cross-slide drive shaft and said drive means for connecting and disconnecting rotational drive to said cross-slide drive shaft and to said cross-slide drive means to move said cross-slide and stapler into position at said bins to stitch the accumulated papers in said bins; control means for activating said clutch to extend said crossslide and to retract said cross-slide relative to said bins selectively; a stapler on said cross-slide, a stapler drive shaft lying between said brackets for operating said stapler, stapler drive means connected between said stapler drive shaft and said stapler for actuating said stapler when in driven connection to said stapler drive shaft, a normally disconnected clutch between said motor and said stapler drive shaft and drive means for connecting and disconnecting rotational drive to said stapler drive shaft and to said stapler drive means, and control means for activating said clutch to operate said stapler to stitch the accumulated papers together in said bins; all said control means being operationally integrated to automatically move said carriage incrementally from bin to bin and dwell, to extend said cross-slide, to actuate said stapler, to retract said cross-slide, and to repeat relative to said next bin.
 2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said control means for said stapling mechanism comprising, a control circuit, switches in said control circuit with one said switch radially adjacent said carriage drive shaft, one said switch radially adjacent said stapler drive shaft, and two said switches radially adjacent said cross-slide drive shaft; cams on said shafts for operating said switches to close momentarily in conjunction with shaft rotational position at an angular location; a clutch on each said drive shaft for selectively rotating each said shaft; said shafts being normally stationary and said clutches normally rotating; said clutches having drive means and electrically energizable drive connecting means in said control circuit activated by said switches closing momentarily; said clutches self-maintaining clutch drive connection once drive is established; said clutch drive means being mechanically disconnectable; dogs located radially adjacent each said clutch at a circumferentIal point for contacting and disconnecting said clutches when said shafts are at a desired angular position; the sequence of the operation cycle of said stapling mechanism being; A. indexing the carriage to a bin by rotation of said carriage drive shaft, B. advancing the cross-slide toward the bin by rotation of said cross-slide drive shaft, C. operating the stapler to stitch the papers by rotation of said stapler drive shaft, D. withdrawing the cross-slide from the bin by rotation of said cross-slide drive shaft, a start switch in said control circuit, said cycle being automatically repeated upon said start switch being closed as follows: a. said carriage drive shaft rotates to engage its said clutch with its said dog to disconnect drive to said carriage drive shaft after the carriage is indexed to the next bin also advancing said cam on said carriage drive shaft to close said adjacent switch to energize clutch drive to said cross-slide drive shaft to advance said cross-slide into said bin; b. said cross-slide shaft then rotates to engage its said clutch with its said dog to disconnect drive to said cross-slide shaft after the cross-slide is advanced into said bin also advancing said cam on said cross-slide shaft to close said adjacent switch to energize clutch drive to said stapler drive shaft to operate said stapler to stitch the accumulated sheets in said bin; c. said stapler drive shaft then rotates to engage its said clutch with its said dog to disconnect drive to said stapler drive shaft after the accumulated sheets are stitched together in said bin also advancing said cam on said stapler drive shaft to close said adjacent switch to connect clutch drive to said cross-slide drive shaft to retract said cross-slide from said bin. d. said cross-slide drive shaft then rotates to engage its said clutch with its said dog to disconnect drive to said cross-slide drive shaft after said cross-slide is withdrawn from said bin also advancing said cam on said cross-slide drive shaft to close said adjacent switch to energize clutch drive to said carriage drive shaft to index said carriage to the next said bin. said cycle thereby being self-repeating.
 3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, a sensor device for reading a stapler operating condition for determining if (said stapler head and anvil are jammed together, if the striker is jammed in the stapler head, or if) the stapler is in proper operating condition comprising, a check switch disposed in said control circuit in series with said switch operated by said cam on said stapler drive shaft to interrupt said circuit to said clutch on said cross-slide drive shaft if said stapler is jammed or to close the circuit if said stapler is in proper operating condition. a sensor stub shaft, a feeler lever on said stub shaft, a finger on said feeler lever having a high surface equating to the stapler anvil and head jammed condition of said stapler and a low surface equating to proper operating condition of said stapler; said feeler lever when not in alignment with and moving under said stapler head equating to striker-head jammed-in condition of said stapler; said finger and feeler lever angularly locating said stub shaft dependent on said stapler condition; a transfer lever on said stub shaft, a push-pull rod connected to said transfer lever, a rocker guard operated by said push-pull rod; said rocker guard having a center notch equating to proper stapler condition and a raised surface on either side of said notch equating to said inoperative stapler conditions; a sensor shaft, a radial arm on said sensor shaft, a link connecting said radial arm to said push-pull lever, and a spring lying between said link and said push-pull rod to allow sensor shaft angular movement variance relative to stapler condition, a radial tab fixed on said sensor shaft at the center position of said rocker guard and notch so as to enter saId notch when said rocker guard is at center permitting the sensor shaft to make its full angular motion and to encounter the raised surfaces on said rocker guard when said rocker guard is on either side of center position to prevent said sensor shaft making its full angular motion; said sensor shaft having a check cam which closes said check switch when said sensor shaft has made its full angular motion, a sensor actuator cam on said stapler drive shaft, a sensor actuator lever on said sensor shaft riding against said sensor cam to impart rocking motion to said sensor shaft in conjunction with said sensor cam rotation; spring biased linkage in said sensor lever allowing varying sensor shaft angular motion relative to said sensor cam movement; said sensor shaft via said spring linkage of said sensor lever and said spring between said push-pull lever and said link being capable of taking an angular position as located by said notch and said raised surfaces of said rocker guard in abutment with said radial tab on said sensor shaft such as home position of full angular motion in said notch and displaced position on said surfaces of less than full angular motion; and a check switch cam on said sensor shaft closing said check switch to complete said circuit when said sensor shaft makes its full angular motion with said radial tab lying in said notch of said rocker guard; said check switch cam on said sensor shaft not closing said check switch with said sensor shaft making less than full angular motion thereby preventing closing of the circuit to initiate the next sequence in the cycle thereby interrupting automatic cycling because the stapler is not in an operative condition to stitch the accumulated papers in said bins.
 4. A collating machine and stapler combination comprising relatively vertical collating machine plates defining bins, a closure at the bottom of each said bin, means for loading sheets into the top of each said bin; said plates having a relief for exposing at least a portion of the edge and surface of sheets in said bins for a stapler to enter over the sheets to stitch the sheets together in a book while the sheets are in said bins, comprising; a carriage, means movably supporting said carriage for travel from bin to bin, actuating means for moving said carriage from one said bin to the next, a cross-slide on said carriage, a stapler on said cross-slide, actuating means on said carriage for advancing said cross-slide and stapler to the sheets in said bins and retracting said cross-slide, and actuating means on said carriage and cross-slide for operating said stapler to stitch the sheets in a bin together in a book.
 5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, a removable closure at the bottom of each said bin; said closure at each said bin bottom being a spring pressed trap door, an arm on each said door for opening each said door, and a dog on said carriage adapted to contact said arm and open said door when said carriage moves from said bin having a stitched book to unload the book from said bin.
 6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, a bottom conveyor below said bins; said bottom conveyor receiving the stitched books from said bins when they are unloaded and transporting the books to a point outwardly of said bins.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, a transmission on said machine having selectively operable drive means separately connected to each said carriage actuating means, said cross-slide actuating means, and said stapler actuating means; and control means for sequentially selectively operating said drive means in repeating cycles to advance said cross-slide and stapler, to actuate said stapler, to retract said cross-slide and stapler, and to move said carriage to the next bin.
 8. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, each said plate having a transverse slot; a jogger mechanism at one side of said plates having A bumper bar reciprocally disposed in the slots of said plates transversely of said bins, a stop bar on the other side of said plates opposite to said jogger mechanism and said bumper bar, said jogger mechanism intermittantly advancing said bumper bar into contact with sheets in said bins to jog the sheets against said stop bar to thereby align the sheets edgewise in said bins.
 9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8, said jogger mechanism being adapted to advance and hold said bumper bar against the sheets in said bins in opposition to said stapler when said stapler is advanced into said bins to prevent said stapler displacing sheets in its advancing movement.
 10. A collating machine combination comprising substantially vertical plates defining bins, a closure at the bottom of each said bin, means for loading sheets into the top of each said bin; each said plate having a relief for exposing a portion of the edge and face surface of sheets in said bins for a stapler to enter over the sheets to stitch the sheets together in a book while in said bins; a carriage, means movably supporting said carriage for travel from bin to bin, actuating means for moving said carriage from one said bin to the next, a cross-slide on said carriage, a stapler on said cross-slide, actuating means on said carriage for advancing said cross-slide and stapler to the sheets in said bins and retracting said cross-slide, actuating means on said carriage and cross-slide for operating said stapler to stitch the sheets in a bin together in a book; said closure at each said bin bottom being a spring pressed trap door, an arm on each said door for opening each said door, a dog on said carriage adapted to contact said arm and open said door when said carriage moves from said bin having a stitched book to unload the book from said bin; a transmission on said machine having selectively operable drive means separately connected to each said carriage actuating means, said cross-slide actuating means, and said stapler actuating means; control means for sequentially selectively operating said drive means in repeating cycles to advance said cross-slide and stapler, to actuate said stapler, to retract said cross-slide and stapler, and to move said carriage to the next bin; each said plate having a transverse slot; a jogger mechanism at one side of said plates having a bumper bar reciprocally disposed in the slots of said plates transversely of said bins, and a stop bar on the other side of said plates opposite to said jogger mechanism and said bumper bar, said jogger mechanism intermittantly advancing said bumper bar into contact with sheets in said bins to jog the sheets against said stop bar to thereby align the sheets edgewise in said bins; said jogger mechanism being adapted to advance and hold said bumper bar against the sheets in said bins in opposition to said stapler when said stapler is advanced into said bins to prevent said stapler displacing sheets in its advancing movement. 